Allen Austin-Bishop

Allen Austin-Bishop is an appealing singer with a powerful voice whose music crosses the artificial boundary lines between jazz, pop and groove music. His distinctive style and confident authority let listeners know that, like Gil Scott-Heron and Billie Holiday, he means every word that he sings. One certainly never doubts his sincerity or his determination to interpret music in his own unique way. Allen Austin-Bishop, who displayed his individuality on his earlier standards album Sorry Grateful, mostly performs, with a few exceptions, modern material on Why Go?

The opening “Do I Wanna Know?” is a rhythmic piece that uses electronics in surprising and creative ways, while Austin-Bishop successfully sets an ominous yet thoughtful mood in his speechlike singing. His interplay with saxophone and keyboards on the wistful ballad “Buffalo Ghosts” is preceded by his interpretation of the lyrics on “Why Go?”, the catchy “Came Here For Love,” and “You Get My Love”.

Other highlights include the haunting “Memories,” the funky and pop-inspired “Ring Of Keys,” and the singer’s fresh takes on a trio of standards: a joyful rendition of “Both Sides Now,” “Good Morning Heartache,” and a fresh take on Stephen Sondheim’s “Wait.” Also included are the positive message of “Evergreen”(which benefits from the groove given by the rhythm section), and the futuristic “Laugh? I Thought I’d Die.”